srowe/Susan -- if your repair person is useless at this point, and you need a larger throat machine and you know your price point, check out what machines are available online. I did a search for large throat sewing machines and came up with a bunch of options under your price point. Look at the individual machines and if any appeal to you, you can research that machine more in depth. Don't forget to consider the brand that your repair person is supposed to specialize in, too.
Of course, you can always become a Viking repair person specializing in Topaz 20. :-)
Good luck!